Smart homes offer convenience and security risks. Here’s what you can do to stop hackers from taking control of your smart speaker, thermostat, doorbell, and other connected devices.
Your smart home is a futuristic marvel. But when camera bugs let our neighbors spy on us, smart speakers are manipulated with lasers, robot vacuums are hacked to shout obscenities, and entire security systems are compromised by a smart plug, it’s understandable if you have reservations about connecting your house to the internet.
There’s no need to avoid the benefits of smart home devices entirely, though. The trick is to understand the risks and take advantage of available security features. Whether you have a full network of smart kitchen appliances or a single voice assistant, follow these steps to ensure no one messes with your stuff.1. Consider What You Actually Need
Before rushing to buy a smart speaker, thermostat, or video doorbell, assess your comfort level when it comes to balancing convenience with security and privacy. A security camera might offer protection, but are you okay with footage being uploaded to the company’s remote servers? A voice assistant like Alexa never sleeps, always listening for your commands. Is that creepy or a perk? Figure out what you need from a smart home, and where privacy trumps convenience for you.2. Secure Your Wi-Fi Network
Out of the box, most routers use a model-specific SSID and either a random password or something generic, like « admin », making it easy for hackers to access your home Wi-Fi and poke around your connected smart home devices. Keep in mind that these manufacturer-supplied credentials can be found online for anyone to use, so first thing to do is secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password.
How you do that varies slightly by device, but the basics are the same; here’s how to get started. Those using a mesh system will be able to manage security options from a convenient mobile app. If your router allows it, also think about changing the SSID, which is just the name of your Wi-Fi network (e.g. PCMag_Home). While you’re there, make sure you’re using the highest security protocol. While older devices will top out at WPA2, newer routers have the superior WPA3 standard.3. Update Firmware
Firmware is the low-level software that powers your router and Internet of Things gadgets. You can access your router’s firmware or login through the associated app to change the password (which should be different from the Wi-Fi password) and configure various settings.
